For a long time I hiked with a far too heavy backpack, but recently I read a guide to ultralight hiking that made me rethink things. The basic idea is simple: start with the big three — tent, backpack and sleep system. Choose lightweight options there and you can shave off several kilos right away.
What helped me most was weighing all my gear and entering the weights in a spreadsheet. That way you quickly see what your pack actually consists of. A good benchmark is 'three for three': tent, empty backpack, sleeping bag and sleeping pad should weigh no more than three kilos combined.
The sleeping bag is an easy place to save weight — down insulates better than synthetic at a lower weight, and an inflatable sleeping pad packs much smaller than a foam pad. The kitchen can get lighter too: if you're only boiling water, a small canister-top gas stove is enough.
The most important thing I've learned is to dare to take things out instead of adding them. Leave the 'nice to have' items at home, and you'll be able to walk farther and enjoy nature more instead of staring at your feet.
Source: Scandinavian Outdoor
One of the more honest gear stories I have read lately comes from The Trek. Katie Jackson replaced her Durston X-Mid Pro 1 tent with a Zpacks Hexamid Pocket Tarp for an autumn thru-hike of Vermont's Long Trail, mainly to carry less weight. The swap saved 11.6 ounces, most of it from dropping the bug net and floor.
The surprise is that the real win was volume. The tent packed to around 3.5 liters while the tarp took up just 0.7 liters, leaving room for more food in a small pack. Over 13 nights she cowboy camped twice, slept in the trail's wooden shelters ten times, and never pitched the tarp at all, yet she still felt the benefit of the lighter, smaller kit.
She is also upfront about the downsides she found on later trips. Without netting she lost more wind protection than expected, nights below freezing felt colder, and she woke up with sand and grit in dusty spots. With no floor, rain splashing off compact soil and groundwater are bigger issues, so site selection matters a lot. Bugs and privacy are the obvious costs.
On the plus side, there was much less condensation, the DCF fabric dries in minutes in the sun, and there is simply less to break: no zippers, no floor to rip, one pole. She likes being able to see the stars, and once woke up to find a mountain lion a few feet away.
Her conclusion is that there is no single right answer. For the Continental Divide Trail she chose a tent without hesitation, because of altitude, wind and monsoon weather. I appreciated that: ultralight is about matching the kit to the trip, not about the lowest number on the scale.
Source: The Trek
An ultralight packing list published in OUTDOOR magazine in August caught my eye, mainly because it does not start with the most expensive gear. The author, Robert Klink, draws the line for ultralight at a base weight below five kilograms, meaning without food, water and fuel.
His starting point is the "big four": tent, backpack, sleeping pad and sleep system. This is where you can save the most weight, but also where you can most easily go too far. For a light tent he names a Dyneema model such as the Tarptent Rainbow Li, and as a more comfortable option the Durston X-Dome 1. For backpacks, the range runs from the 38-litre Zpacks Nero to much cheaper models from Naturehike or Quechua.
His advice on the sleeping pad is particularly convincing. This is where you should spend the least effort saving weight, because bad sleep ruins every trip. He also recommends light footwear, since weight on your feet is felt much more than weight in your pack.
The price question is interesting too. According to the article, a working list can be put together for 500 to 800 euros; it is just a bit heavier and bulkier. Genuine high-end equipment, on the other hand, costs well over 5,000 euros. Ultralight does not have to be expensive.
My takeaway after reading: start solid, check after every trip what really bothered you, and only then upgrade deliberately, starting with the sleeping pad, sleep system and tent. I am taking that as my guideline.
Source: OUTDOOR Magazin
Brad McCartney, an Australian who has finished the Triple Crown (PCT, CDT and AT), published his lightweight hiking gear list in July 2026, and it is a handy reference if you are trying to trim your pack. His goal is a base weight under 10 lb (4.5 kg). In practice he is usually under 13 lb (6 kg), rising to about 20 lb (9 kg) in very cold weather with snowshoes and winter clothing.
The core kit, meaning pack, trekking poles and sleep system, comes to about 5 lb (2.28 kg). It includes a Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 50L pack (585 g), a Zpacks Plex Solo tent (395 g), Gossamer Gear LT5 poles (280 g), a Sea to Summit Spark bag (665 g) and a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT pad (350 g). The cook kit is tiny: a PocketRocket Deluxe stove, a 550 ml titanium pot and a spork, about 171 g in total.
Some of his tips stood out to me. Lighter tents, pads and bags give up durability and insulation, so prioritize insulation below freezing and check the pad's R-value. A quilt works well above freezing, while a sleeping bag is better below it. Carbon poles are lighter but can shatter, whereas aluminum can be bent back. Rain pants double as wind pants, and a rain jacket can be worn to bed for warmth.
I like that he is honest about trade-offs, including that cold soaking did not suit him. The page does carry affiliate links, so read the gear picks with that in mind.
Source: Bike Hike Safari
When you try to lighten your pack, clothing is often the first place where you carry too much. The guide François Jourjon published on Randonner Malin about the three-layer system struck me as a good foundation: use the fewest clothes for the most effect, and stay at a comfortable temperature both while moving and while stopped.
The first layer, against the skin, should wick sweat away and dry quickly. The author advises against cotton, which absorbs moisture and cools you down, and compares quick-drying synthetic fibers with merino, which is warmer but more fragile. The second layer insulates by trapping air: fleece or synthetic insulated jackets, which still protect when damp, or down, which insulates much better for its weight but handles moisture poorly. The third layer blocks wind and rain while letting sweat escape, because there is no point avoiding the rain only to end up soaked in sweat.
What I found most useful for a light pack is that you do not always need all three layers. In strong wind without much cold, you can combine a merino t-shirt with a breathable rain jacket. In dry, very cold weather, a base layer plus a mid layer or two is enough. Some garments serve several roles, such as softshells or windproof fleeces, which lets you reduce the number of pieces.
The last piece of advice is not to overdress while moving: you sweat, then get cold when you stop. It is better to take a layer off before you start sweating and use ventilation, such as underarm zips. A simple article, but one that stops you from carrying a ton of clothes.
Source: Randonner Malin
Decathlon is launching an ultralight trekking range under the Simond brand for long-distance hikers and fastpackers. According to Outdoor Magazin, the motto is "Enjoy the trip, don't carry the pack." Five products stand out, and the numbers should interest anyone counting grams.
The MT900 UL 50 L trekking pack weighs 880 g. It is made of water-repellent 100D polyamide and has a roll-top closure, large outer pockets and a ventilated, height-adjustable carry system. The Sprint carbon trekking poles come in at 184 g each (110 to 130 cm long, 36.5 cm folded). The Sprint 0 °C down quilt weighs 640 g in size L, uses 900 cuin RDS goose down and packs down to 33 × 18 cm.
The MT900 air mattress weighs 615 g (570 g without the bag), is 9 cm thick and has an R-value of 5.4. The editors note that R-values are not always entirely meaningful. The highlight is the two-person Dyneema tarp tent: 510 g, outer fly in DCF15, floor in DCF18, water column of 15,000 and 20,000 mm, pitched with two trekking poles and wind-resistant up to 70 km/h. The expected price is 749.99 € from May 2026.
I find it interesting that Dyneema is now available at the price point of a major retailer. If you are serious about saving weight, weigh the gear yourself anyway, because these are manufacturer figures.
Source: Outdoor Magazin
I read a mountaineering gear list with a 2.8 kg base weight published by ULコンパス (UL Compass), updated in February 2026. It is written by Karu-kichi, who has nine years of ultralight experience, and the weights are measured on an electronic scale rather than taken from catalogue figures. The assumptions are a non-snow season, altitude around 2,000 m, two nights and three days, about 20 km of walking a day, and night temperatures down to 1°C.
The total is 2,863 g. It is split into carry 486 g, sleep 651 g, wear 818 g, eat 259 g and support 649 g. The pack is a Yamato MINI2 (448 g), the shelter a Zpacks Hexamid Pocket Tarp (142 g), the quilt a CUMULUS X-LITE200 (297 g), and the pad 75 g. The numbers alone are instructive.
The author says his approach rests on four ideas: a frameless pack, a floorless shelter, a 900-fill down quilt, and a titanium pot with an alcohol stove. Meals are mostly freeze-dried, so the cooking gear is focused on boiling water.
What stayed with me most is the phrase "light gear, thick preparation". Cutting preparedness to get light is not the same as ultralight, and the parts that affect safety are kept fully covered. Rather than competing on the base weight figure, it is more important to think about why you choose each item. I was also glad that the list is honest about its definitions: it leaves out the smartphone and spare clothes but includes trekking poles. When comparing with someone else's list, that is the part to line up first.
Source: ULコンパス
It often feels like everyone on the trail has a quilt, a trekking-pole tent and a DCF pack, so I found it interesting that The Trek looked at its own survey numbers to ask whether ultralight is really taking over thru-hiking.
The usual definition of ultralight is a base weight under 10 pounds. In The Trek's 2025 Appalachian Trail survey, with 279 respondents, only a small fraction fell in that range. The average hiker started with a 20 pound base weight and finished with 18. When the survey first collected this data in 2016, the typical figure was 19 pounds, so basically nothing has changed. The PCT shows a similar picture: Halfway Anywhere's 2025 survey reported an average starting base weight of 17.8 pounds and an ending one of 15.
The author offers a few explanations. The survey data does not go back far enough to capture the big gear innovations, and a lot of people buy lighter gear to make room for comforts like a wider sleeping pad, extra socks or a paperback. Gear may be becoming mainstream more than the minimalist philosophy behind it. Tent choices tell the same story: the Zpacks Duplex and Durston X-Mid were first and second, but the not-ultralight Big Agnes Copper Spur was third. Light-but-not-ultralight packs like the Osprey Exos and the ULA Circuit dominated, and the average pack capacity was 53 liters.
What I took away is that ultralight is a spectrum. Most hikers mix a few light pieces with normal gear, and many are happy at around 18 pounds. The writer also asks how light is too light, since saving weight is not worth waking up sore. If sub-10 pounds is your goal, today's market makes it easier than ever, but the data says most people do not share it.
Source: The Trek
For me, fastpacking isn't a discipline with fixed rules but a way of moving through the mountains: faster than a classic hiker, without the performance pressure of an ultrarun. Long days, controlled pace. Running, hiking, climbing, descending.
The plan is called the Pyrenean Triple Crown Adventure: three complete coast-to-coast crossings of the Pyrenees, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean. No straight lines, but high ridges, remote passes and deep valleys.
The pack weighs six kilos at most and is still complete:
- a running pack such as the Rab Veil XP 20L or 30L (the latter filled to 25 litres at most)
- an ultralight Rab Ridge Raider Bivi as shelter
- for the night, a Mythic Ultra 120 Modular with an Ultrasphere 4.5 sleeping mat
- an insulating base layer, windstopper and waterproof, windproof running jacket
- water in soft flasks, refilled from mountain streams
- for emergencies, a first aid kit, headlamp, emergency bivy and phone
The most important principle: lightweight, but never careless. In the Pyrenees you can get scorching sun on bare rock slabs and cold on a windy col in the same day. A wet body, wind at altitude and fatigue together are a dangerous combination, so being able to stay warm and dry isn't comfort but necessity.
Villages and refuges are anchor points, but never certainties: opening times change and supplies run out. Self-reliance stays the rule. And the real work starts at home, studying contour lines and thinking through scenarios: where can I descend, where can I take shelter?
The less I carry, the more I experience. It sounds like a cliché, but every trip confirms it again.
Source: Geert van Nispen
Many people hesitate over which fuel bottle size to choose when using an MSR gasoline stove. ULCompass published a clear comparison based on weight and burn time, so here is a summary.
First, why choose the genuine bottle. The bottle threads are designed specifically to match the stove's pump, which prevents fuel leaks when pressurised. With third-party bottles, even a slight mismatch in the threads raises the risk of leaks or parts coming apart, and MSR does not cover damage caused by non-genuine products. The article also notes that the bottles are extruded from aluminium in one piece, so the base and shoulders are naturally thicker, which adds strength.
The specs are as follows. The 11 oz holds 325 ml and weighs 126 g in practice. The 20 oz holds 591 ml and weighs 180 g. The 30 oz holds 887 ml and weighs 223 g. When burning gasoline in a Whisperlite International, the 20 oz gives about 110 minutes of continuous burn according to MSR's published figure, while the 11 oz is roughly 60 minutes and the 30 oz roughly 165 minutes. Note that the 11 oz and 30 oz figures are estimates based on volume ratios, and real times vary with temperature, wind, altitude and flame setting.
The author suggests that for solo trips a light 11 oz is the default, while larger groups or elaborate cooking call for the 20 oz. The 30 oz suits long traverses and winter mountaineering, but it is correspondingly heavier.
For ultralight hikers, a difference of a few dozen grams matters, but the idea of working backwards from the number of days and people to the amount of fuel needed, and avoiding a bottle that is too big, is a useful takeaway.
Source: ULCompass
Adventure Alan (Alan Dixon) and Jaeger Shaw refreshed their well-known sub-10-pound ultralight backpacking gear list in March 2026, and it is worth a look whether you are trimming your own kit or just curious where the benchmark sits.
The pitch is simple: under ten pounds of equipment is enough to stay safe, warm and comfortable in the backcountry. They say the list has been refined for over two decades and tested on routes from Alaska to Patagonia, with the goal of cutting carried weight while improving quality and function.
The definition matters, so I appreciated that they spell it out. Base weight here means the pack and everything inside it while hiking. Worn and held items, optional or situational gear, and consumables such as food, water, fuel and sunscreen are left out. That is the same convention most lists use, but it is the first thing to check when you compare numbers from different people.
The authors also stress that this is a starting point, not a prescription. Adapt it to your trip, your climate and the comforts you are not willing to give up. The full itemized list lives on the Adventure Alan site, so the page I read works more as an overview of the philosophy.
What I like most is the framing: lighter should not mean worse. Better materials let you carry less without feeling worse off, and a clearly defined base weight makes it easier to see where the next saving actually is.
Source: Sawyer Products Blog (Adventure Alan)
A simple way to slim down your pack is to leave the tent at home and sleep in shelters. Utemagasinet has a short guide with seven tips, and it is a reminder of how much weight and space you can save. Without a tent you can carry a smaller pack, and the hike becomes easier to walk.
A shelter is a structure that protects against weather and wind, open on one side. They are often found along lowland trails, sometimes with a fire pit. But not all shelters are meant for sleeping in; some only have benches to sit on, so it is worth checking in advance. You can find them via Google Maps and the municipality's website.
It is first come, first served. If the shelter is large you may have to share the space with strangers, and city-near shelters in popular outdoor areas are often fully booked, so arrive early. Out of season you often have the place to yourself. Most cannot be booked, but there are architect-designed shelters with wow factor that can be booked in some areas.
The gear is minimal anyway: a sleeping pad, a sleeping bag and clothes suited to the temperature. Wool base layers work well as pajamas. For a little extra coziness the article suggests good food, a string of lights and a lantern, and a mosquito net if there are a lot of mosquitoes.
I like that the tip points in the right direction for anyone who wants to walk light: instead of buying yet another lightweight product, you hand the responsibility for roof and walls over to the trail. It is cheap, simple and suits an autumn hike well.
Source: Utemagasinet
